KEYS
MULTITASKING FOR MUSICIANS | Ed Kerr
It’ s happening again. They’ re everywhere! Some of the most popular worship songs around the world today are using a particular rhythmic figure. Since it’ s so popular, it’ s important that each of us are comfortable playing the figure.
The figure that’ s being used so often is called a duple, and it’ s heard in songs that are in triple meter, 3 / 8 and 6 / 8. The most popular song that uses duple figures today is“ Reckless Love”. This song has resonated with believers around the world like few songs have recently and rocketed to the top 10 CCLI songs very quickly. The melody of the chorus is almost exclusively duple figures.
Another song that uses lots of duple figures is“ Who You Say I Am”. It’ s also gaining great popularity in the church around the world. And it’ s another reason for each of us to be comfortable playing duples.
First, use a metronome for these exercises. There are tons of metronome apps for your smart phone, tablet, or laptop, and many of them free. Get one and get in the habit of practicing with it. Set the metronome to click for each 8th note. I suggest you use“ Who You Say I Am” for this exercise. A good metronome setting for the song is 172. It may sound like an awfully fast click, but that click is going to help you feel the groups of three more easily.
Second, get comfortable with counting each of the beats of the measure out loud, or at least thinking of the numbers as you play some steady 8th notes on your instrument. In 6 / 8, for example, be able to count 1-2- 3-4-5-6.
Simply put, a duple figure is 2 against 3. Two notes are played( or sung) against three. It’ s musical multitasking, and calls for you and I to do several things at once. The basic pulse in 3 / 8 or 6 / 8 is groups of 3 eighth notes, like this.
In 3 / 8, be able to count 1-2-3.
Here’ s a melodic figure from“ Who You Say I Am” that works well for this exercise. Start your metronome and as you play these notes, say or think“ 1-2-3-4-5-6” as you play. Play whatever melodic pattern you choose. The important thing here is to play a stream of 8th notes that fill the 6 beats in the measure.
So, duple figures occur when two notes fit in the space of three. Playing these duple figures with their contrasting rhythms might already come naturally for you, but some of you might still struggle with playing them confidently and accurately. Here are some tips to help you become comfortable playing duples.
92 August 2018 WorshipMusician. com